In each issue, Cheetah News features a newly certified PMP^® who shares his or her ideas, insight, and experience with potential PMPs considering certification.

Some Things Shouldn't Be Left to Chance
Leaving results up to chance when you drop a coin in a slot machine is one thing, but that’s not how you want to handle your career. Lance Orner, an engineering project manager in slot machine manufacturing, knew that PMP certification needed to be part of his career plan, and he wasn’t leaving it up to chance.

“The slot machine industry has been getting more and more complicated as machines get bigger and become more integrated into casinos,” Lance explains. “Our company saw that as projects span more engineering disciplines, there is a growing need for more highly trained project managers.”

The company researched Project Management techniques and always came back to PMI having the most complete knowledge base, regardless of the industry. So having people earn their PMP certification was the clearest way to verify they have the knowledge they need.

“Cheetah’s Exam Prep for the PMP is probably the best way to learn all the necessary details to pass the PMP exam,” Lance says. “It moves fast, and I don’t think I’ve ever learned more details in four days than I did in this class. With the accelerated learning, sample test questions and lots of review, Cheetah’s class is designed to help you overcome the pitfalls created by the PMP exam test questions.”

Lance felt that it was helpful to at least have a passing familiarity with the material in The PMBOK^® Guide – Third Edition. Although you may have Project Management experience, Lance says that knowing the PMI and PMBOK terminology is at the heart of passing the PMP exam.

“The exam is long – 200 questions in four hours. It takes determination to keep from rushing through the final questions just to be done with it,” Lance says. “You have to read each question carefully, so you can’t rush it.”

While Lance believes that being a successful project manager doesn’t boil down to just a few variables, he knows that having detailed knowledge of a proven technique is a great place to start. “A PMP certificate gives you a solid background, a common language, and proven processes upon which to work your magic.”

And with that kind of magic, you can hit the career jackpot without relying on a lucky pull of the handle.